9/11 Survivor Tells His Story 16 Years Later

Deptford Center Had a Very Special Guest

Among the survivors who made it out of the Twin Towers after the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001, is South Jersey native Louis Giaccardo and 16 years later he’s sharing his story with many.

September 11th, 2001, is a day the country will never forget and for Audubon resident Giaccardo, it’s a day that changed his life forever.

“It was traumatic to a point; it was challenging," said Giaccardo. "Actually looking back on it it was a day of survival, to get back to my family.”

He was working on the 87th floor of the South Tower and, luckily, he was able to get out safely and return home to his family in South Jersey.

“Weeks before 9/11 [each year], I feel my body go through different emotions," said Giaccardo. "I’m more emotional. I feel it gripping me. As it passes, 9/11, I feel [those feelings] subside in my body.”

It helps them connect to what happened that day and that’s why I do it. If it’s helping people then I’ll keep on talking about it.

Sixteen years later he now shares his story by giving detailed presentations on a day that he’ll never forget.

“It can be anywhere from a couple of people to 500-plus people," said Giaccardo. "When I’m asked [to speak], I do it because I believe in keeping the word going so we don’t forget about it.”

On Monday, September 11th, 2017, he stood in front of residents at Deptford Center, a rehab and long-term care facility, to tell his story of survival.

“I think it’s important that we don’t forget and that we keep everybody in our hearts and in our minds,” said Hillary Ayers, director of admissions at Deptford Center.

Giaccardo described his day from arriving at his office to the big, emotional hug his two sons gave him when he arrived home after the terror attacks.

By the time he wrapped up his presentation there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“You can hear them in the audience," said Giaccardo, when describing the reactions of people as he shared his experiences of that fateful day. "It’s surprise, it’s disbelief and it’s happiness that I got out.

"But afterwards, the responses I get is they just thank me for coming to talk to them. The biggest thing is that they say it helps them — it helps them connect to what happened that day and that’s why I do it. If it’s helping people then I’ll keep on talking about it.”

He’ll continue telling his story about 9/11 to ensure it’s a day that will never be forgotten.